February TIP OF THE MONTH

February 2016 HSPC – TIP of the MONTH

Coach Jerry “Kal” Kalista

February 1, 2016

HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!?

PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!?

PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT!!!

All baseball practice sessions must be organized to be successful. An organized practice starts with writing down what needs to be accomplished for each session. Stations should be planned, based on the amount of time allowed, is the practice inside or outside, what equipment (screens, cages and machines) is available. You may need to modify the plan based on the number of coaches available for each session. What coaches should not do is make up things on the fly. Consult with the other coaches, write it up, stick to it and only modify slightly, if needed. Be prepared!

Before each practice, communicate to all the players what will take place, include timelines, in the practice. It is important that each player be aware of the timeline and act accordingly. All coaches and players must understand that time is everyone’s equal enemy. Each player needs to know exactly where to go and at what time. This will improve practice efficiency.

The warm-up is a crucial part of any baseball practice. I feel the coaching staff should be present during the warm-up. This is where the practice session begins. The entire coaching staff should make visual and verbal contact with each player. Coaches should be interactive with their players by engaging in small talk about school, family, friends, or simply make some positive, feel better remarks towards an individual or a group of players. Being with the players during warm-up will insure that a proper warm-up will take place. Use the time to set the tone for the day’s practice.

It is very important that each practice contains organized movement and flow. Don’t line all the players up at shortstop and hit ground balls. What a waste of valuable time. Find a way to have the players keep busy with as little stand-around time as possible.

End all practice sessions with positive reinforcement. Don’t let a player leave practice feeling bad about their performance. Find a way to get them to bounce back on the positive side.